Google to add Augmented Reality's magic to Chrome
After launching ARCore Augmented Reality platform last year, Google is now experimenting to integrate AR directly into desktop and mobile web platforms through Google Chrome. It has unveiled "Article" a prototype to bring AR to devices using the browser, without the need for any special apps. Google says Article will work on any device with a browser: desktop, tablet, and mobile. Here's more!
AR on web platform with Article
Soon, users will look at world through phones: Google
In a blog post, Google Daydream WebXR Team's UX Lead Josh Carpenter and UX Engineer Reza Ali stated "hundreds of millions of Android and iOS devices" would soon provide AR experiences. To bring AR experience to as many users as possible, they are exploring how AR can be added to the web platform. They said "someday anyone with a browser" can access AR technology.
Article shows GIF-like interactive image on browser
In the blog post, the Daydream WebXR Team members explained how the new prototype of AR on Chrome works. It has a product called "Article" which -when loaded on Chrome with a 3D model- displays an interactive image that can be dragged and rotated. The experience is more "sophisticated" on mobile web platform as it can use the smartphone's built-in cameras and sensors.
Article is still a simple 3D model viewer
Google's "Article" is currently just a "3D model viewer with camera integration". The prototype looks similar to the AR Stickers for Google Pixel smartphones. Though Article is fairly refined, the 3D object doesn't have much interaction or animation yet. Once Article is ready, 3D objects can be created and embedded into websites that can be viewed/downloaded on browsers and placed in real-world surroundings.
AR blends digital content with real world: Google
The blog post says AR has the "unique power" to blend "digital content with the real world." AR on web platform has vast potential; the technology can be used in education, entertainment, shopping, etc. For example, Google says loading a Wikipedia page for the "Moon Landing" and dropping an astronaut's 3D model in the classroom would help students learn in an interactive manner.
Web AR would help Google have presence on iOS, too
Google has been working on adding VR and AR capabilities to Chrome for quite some time now. Developing a browser-based AR system would give Google an edge over Apple's ARKit framework for developing AR apps/services for iOS. Unlike app-based AR, web-based technology would help Google maintain its cross-platform advantage. Google has a presence on iOS through Chrome, a popular alternative to Safari browser.
There's a lot to be discovered: Google team
Ali and Carpenter said: "Article is just one in a series of prototypes, and there's so much left to explore- from using light estimation to more seamlessly blend 3D objects with the real world, to adding diegetic UI annotations to specific positions on the model."
